Press Release

FAO launching training workshop on Conservation Agriculture for Sustainable Land Management in the south

27 February 2023

Basra, Iraq - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Water Resources,and local governments launched a seven-day training workshop for 30 agriculture extension officers from Muthana governorate as part of a cohort-training program. The workshop is under the "Sustainable Land Management for Improved Livelihoods in Degraded areas of Iraq" project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and l focused on Conservation Agriculture as a Sustainable Land Management practice through Farmers Field School approach.

The extension officers trained as trainers of farmers, who will in turn spearhead a farmer-to-farmer extension delivery on Conservation Agriculture for Sustainable Land Management across the project locations. The training covers thematic subjects such as the roles and responsibilities of farmers field school trainers, criteria for selection and management of farming demonstration sites, principles of conservation agriculture, diagnosis and combating land degradation, climate smart agriculture, and the design and implementation of an action plan on rural participatory farmer-to-farmer extension service delivery.

"By enhancing the capacity of extension officers and lead farmers, FAO aims to promote sustainable land management practices in Iraq and improve the livelihoods of farmers in degraded areas," said FAO Iraq Representative Dr Salah El hajj Hassan. "This training is a milestone in our efforts to support the agriculture sector in Iraq, and we remain committed to working with our partners to ensure sustainable food systems in the country."

FAO's training workshop on Conservation Agriculture is a crucial step towards improving the livelihoods of farmers in degraded areas of Iraq. By empowering extension officers and lead farmers with knowledge and skills, we aim to positively impact agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. FAO is committed to supporting the agriculture sector in Iraq and working with partners to ensure food security and sustainable development.

Khawla Ben Aicha

FAO

Communications Specialist

khawla.benaicha@fao.org

Salah Elhajjhassan

FAO

Representative

salah.elhajjhassan@fao.org

Mr Hajj Hassan, a national of Lebanon, holds a Ph.D. in Plant Production from the University of Agriculture, Damascus, Syria; a Master of Science degree in Plant Production and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering, both from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
He started his career in 1984, as Senior Research Assistant in the Agricultural Research and Education Centre (AREC), American University of Beirut. From 1987 to 1991, he was Coordinator of the Student Training Programme, and also Agriculture and Horticultural Teacher for the Faculty of Agriculture, at the Lebanese University.
From 1991 to 1995, he worked as Agricultural Engineer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Bekaa Regional Office, Zahlah and was then assigned to the Agricultural Research Institute in the Tal Amara station, first as Head of the Crop Production Department and subsequently in charge of the Plant Protection Laboratory. From 2002 to 2006, he was Director of the Kfardane Research Station (Agricultural Research Institute). In 2008, he became Visiting Scientist at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and Coordinator of a project with the International Centre for Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna.
In 2010, he served as Advisor to the Minister for Agriculture of Lebanon. In 2011, he became President of the Pesticide Scientific Committee, Head of the Phytoplasma Committee and Director of the Agriculture and Rural Development Programme (ARDP) (EU-funded project). From 2010 to 2013, he represented Lebanon in negotiations with EU, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq. During his career, Mr Hajj Hassan also carried out a number of other functions. He represented the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) in several research programmes with the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the American University of Beirut. He was Coordinator of the Mashreq/Maghreb project with ICARDA, representing Lebanon in the Steering Committee, as well as being the Head of the Sugar-beet Delivery and of the Wheat Delivery Committees. For a number of years, Mr Hajj Hassan worked for the preparation of FAO TCP projects and served as the National Director of a TCP project. He joined FAO in January 2014 as FAO Representative in Yemen. Mr Hajj Hassan succeeds Mr El Zubi as FAO Representative in Iraq.

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FAO

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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